Media

Winnipeg, Monday, March 26, 2012 – The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Manitoba has been established and has begun its review of federal electoral boundaries. The
three-person commission is headed by the Honourable Richard J. Chartier and commissioners Dr. Paul Thomas and Dr. Kelly Saunders.

The Manitoba Commission is one of 10 independent federal electoral boundaries commissions created by Parliament to determine the new boundaries of Canada's federal electoral districts.

The work of readjusting federal electoral boundaries is not simply a mathematical exercise aimed at population equality among a province's electoral districts, but rather a balancing act that must take into consideration communities of interest or identity as well as a district's history and geographic size.

Manitoba's population has increased from 1,119,583 in 2001 to 1,208,268 in 2011, and the Commission is currently formulating a proposal for the province's 14 seats in the House of Commons to reflect the population growth and shifts.

The Manitoba Commission will publish its proposal outlining the new electoral map in the near future, and public hearings will be held at various locations across the province to seek citizens' views. Advertisements in various newspapers and on the Commission's website will notify Manitobans of the time, place and dates of the public hearings where groups and individuals can participate in the process and share their opinions.

The public hearings and input from the electorate had a great impact on the electoral boundaries created by the last commission in 2002. In order to involve the public as soon as possible in the process, you are invited to participate in creating the initial proposal by providing your comments by e-mail or mail by Friday, April 27, 2012.

To learn more about the redistribution of Manitoba's federal electoral districts, visit www.federal-redistribution.ca.